Jiles keeps party endorsement

Damion Jiles, a Democratic candidate for state representative, will keep his party’s endorsement despite revelations that two different women filed two different restraining orders against him over a decade ago.

Under Washington state’s loose party structure, candidates can pick their party affiliation. But the local and state branches of the party choose what candidates to endorse and back with resources. Jiles, who is challenging Republican state Rep. Paul Harris, was endorsed by the Clark County Democrats.

In a Facebook message, Rich Rogers, chair of the Clark County Democrats, said that the party’s precinct committee officers met last night in executive session. He said they took no action on Jiles’ endorsement meaning he will keep it. He declined to comment on the reasoning used by the PCOs.